Meet Geoffrey Keating | Founder and Director of Keating Woodworks

We had the good fortune of connecting with Geoffrey Keating and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Geoffrey, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
First of all, good design matters. Beauty matters. I think making beautiful things by traditional methods is a radical act in a throw away culture. We live in a world that often ugly. This is why people take vacations to Europe. When you encounter a beautiful space, a well-made object, it’s inspiring. It lifts you up. It makes your life better to sit a table made of real wood. To gather there and share a meal.

I also think that how a company makes things matters. The process. The provenance. All the behind the scenes stuff. Unfortunately most of the cabinetry and furnishings sold in the US are made cheaply overseas in countries that don’t have the same environmental standards, the same protections for workers. Unfortunately most of the cabinetry and furnishings sold in the US will get wonky and be trash in 5-10 years.

I’m proud to train master craftspeople who make the world more beautiful, who make things that last. It makes me happy to see a finished space come together and know that we did that. To know that we did it right.

Our furnishings and kitchens are made by hand in Colorado and meet the highest standards for environmentally responsible use of materials. We use sustainably harvested hardwoods and the highest quality, lowest VOC finishes available. We employee people who love their jobs and who are proud of what they do. They leave our company, if they leave at all, having learned so much, having grown so much. It’s the opposite of a sweatshop.

At Keating Woodworks we design and build bespoke kitchens and furnishings for the home that last a lifetime. We say do it once and do it right. The things we make are never going to end up in a landfill, they’ll be resold or passed on. In short, we make things you can feel good about buying. Our prices reflect the superior quality, and the fact that we make every piece start to finish in the US. It’s rare to see that nowadays.

I never wanted to be part of the problem. Our business produces a superior quality product and treats its workers like human beings, like artists and makers, that’s reflected in what we make. I also feel proud that we make things in an environmentally responsible way. It was never just about money. It was always about trying to make the most beautiful furniture. Something rare. Something startling. Something functional that brings joy to its owner.

Image Credits
Headshot – Rebecca Stumpf images 1&2 – Matt Cashore images 3&4 – Geoffrey Keating image 5- Matt Cashore image 6 – Sean Sheridan